Having recently attended the Bicentenary Jubilee sessions held in Rome, the Communications Office interviews Sister LeeAnn Mackeprang from the Region of North America/Toronto about her vocation, community life, and hopes for the future.
How did you first experience the call to embrace your vocation as a Contemplative Sister of the Good Shepherd – what drew you to answer the call?
My call to religious life began very early. I knew that I wanted to become a sister as far back as second grade. Along the way, I was blessed with a couple of mentors who recognized and affirmed what they described as a contemplative spirit within me.
In 2003, I began intentionally searching for a contemplative order. I knew that prayer was central to my vocation. A sister from a different congregation introduced me to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, and through that connection, I learned about the contemplative branch of the congregation.
What drew me most strongly was their way of prayer, which resonated deeply with my own longing and confirmed for me that this was where God was calling me to live my vocation.
For those unfamiliar with contemplative life, how would you describe your daily rhythm?
Our daily life as Contemplative Sisters is centered on prayer, community, and work. Prayer structures and sustains our entire day. We gather for prayer five times a day; this rhythm of prayer anchors us and gives shape to everything else we do.
Alongside prayer, we engage in work during the morning and afternoon. One of our main forms of work is making altar breads that are distributed to different parishes. This work connects our contemplative life directly to the sacramental life of the Church. In addition to this, we spend time studying various subjects that help deepen our spiritual, theological, and personal growth.
In the evenings, we have personal time and opportunities for leisure. Community life is essential to our rhythm. We eat meals together, share conversation during meals, and spend time together in the evenings.
What did the bicentenary celebrations mean for you personally – how were you impacted?
The bicentenary celebrations were deeply meaningful for me on a personal level. Celebrating 200 years of Contemplative Sisters of the Good Shepherd allowed me to experience a profound sense of connection to the wider congregation. One of the most significant aspects was meeting sisters whom I had never known before.
Walking together in celebration reminded me that I am part of something much larger than myself or my own local community. Honoring 200 years of faithfulness, prayer, and perseverance strengthened my own commitment to live the contemplative life more fully. The celebrations renewed my desire to remain faithful to this vocation and deepened my appreciation for the generations of sisters who have gone before us, carrying the contemplative charism forward with courage and trust.
How do you envision the contemplative dimension of Good Shepherd life expressed in the future? What gives you hope? What message of encouragement would you like to offer to those who seek meaning, purpose, and spirituality in today’s world?
As we look toward the future, I recognize that our contemplative communities are becoming smaller. Yet, I also see new possibilities emerging. I envision the contemplative dimension of Good Shepherd life continuing through greater collaboration and connection, possibly within larger regional communities of contemplatives.
What gives me hope is walking alongside my sisters, especially as they grow older, and learning from their wisdom, faith, and lived experience. Their example teaches me how to trust God more deeply and how to remain open to where the Good Shepherd is leading us. The future may look different from the past, but it is still guided by the same faithful love.
